]]>http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=54
http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=54Sat, 02 May 2015 00:00:00 CSTCheck out Green City Market's opening day on Windy City Live]]>http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=53
http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=53Sat, 02 May 2015 00:00:00 CSTGreen City Market Chef BBQ 2015 Tickets on Sale. Get all the details here. ]]>http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=42
http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=42Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:00:00 CSTGet to know GCM from the perspective of staff, farmers, and customers: http://youtu.be/fuF4JOpdDXE]]>http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=51
http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=51Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 CSTNot only can you pick up produce at Green City Market, you can also stop by a booth for a snack or meal made with products from many of the farmers selling goods nearby. The Green City Market began rather humbly next to the Chicago Theater. Over the years, the market expanded -- bringing in farmers, producers, artisans and food vendors. The majority of the products used in the delicious creations come from the same farmers who are at the market.

The vast majority of GCM farmers have already voluntarily earned certification — under one of seven national programs that monitor animal welfare, growing practices and labor practices. But by next year, certification will become a requirement to remain in the independent Lincoln Park market. "We wanted to make the market as transparent as possible," said Prairie Grass chef and GCM board co-chair Sarah Stegner. "When you say a farm is sustainable, it means a lot of different things to a lot of different people, and this (third-party certification system) is very clear."

Green City Market Chef's BBQ Benefit

Thursday, July 21, 2011

5:30pm-8:00pm

South End of Lincoln Park

Rain or Shine. No dogs allowed.

One of the best summer events in Chicago, this grand picnic is held every July in picturesque Lincoln Park, with the fabulous Chicago skyline as a backdrop. This beautiful venue is ideal to showcase some of Chicago's finest chefs, the who's who of Chicago's culinary scene. All dishes served at the BBQ feature items offered from the bounty of the market with nearly 100 chefs/restaurants creating culinary magic. In addition to food, locally made beer, wine, hand-crafted cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages will be available.

Tickets are available NOW on brownpapertickets.com and at the Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays (at the Information Booth). Tickets will not be available at the BBQ!

Don't miss out on one of Chicago's most unique and tastiest events of the year. It doesn't get better than great food, drink, music, and the beauty of Lincoln Park on a summer evening in Chicago.

Ticket Prices:

Ages 12+: $100.00 (includes entry and all food/beverages) Ages 12 and under: $25.00VIP Tickets: $250.00* (Includes pre-event access at 4:30pm and exclusive cocktails from 4:30pm-5:30pm)VIP Tables: $2,500* (The VIP Heirloom table is $2,500 and seats ten. VIP tables are not available online but can be purchased by calling the Green City Market office at 773.880.1266).

Rain or shine. All sales final. No refunds of exchanges. No dogs allowed.

As the Market grows and we're reaching a record number of children, families and adults, we also need to be able to support and increase our programs and educational initiatives. Please know that all profits from ticket sales go to our programming. Together we can make a difference in the local, Chicago food system by providing information and education on how to eat better and live a healthier lifestyle.

Nationally recognized by the likes of Time Magazine and Travel + Leisure as one of the country’s best farmer’s markets, Chicago’s Green City Market will move outdoors to the southern end of Lincoln Park starting May 4, with an official grand opening to be held May 7.

Green City Market is a nonprofit organization that looks to connect people who live in Chicago’s urban metropolis with local and small family farms that produce food within 250 miles. This means all the produce and other products come from certified sustainable farms in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa and Michigan.

The market also includes educational programming for adults and children in its mission, according to the its associate director Mark Psilos, 27.

“We want to improve the availability of local produce to the community at large and connecting the community to the people who grow their food,” he said. “Also to educate them as to why that’s important.”

This begins with a lengthy application process for each farm. Every farmer is required to fill out a 40-page application that’s reviewed by a committee of food professionals, including chefs, farmers, educators and experts within the agriculture industry. After the review, a staff person known as a “farm forager” visits the farm to get a first-hand look at the operation.

“We want to insure that our vendors are of the quality we’re looking for,” Psilos said. “Four years ago we instituted a program where we have every farmer certified by a third party, and we’re one of the first markets in the country to require that.”

Sara Gasbarra, 31, serves as chair of the Sprouts Program for children and co-chair of the Junior Board, which offers programming and opportunities for young professionals.

“People are becoming more connected to their food. It’s becoming this trendy thing,” Gasbarra said. “It’s such an impersonal thing to go to the grocery store, but when you go to a farmer’s market it’s such a different experience. To go buy something and talk to the person who grew it — it’s not a task. So many people come and spend a couple of hours [at the market]. It’s an event.”

According to Gasbarra, each market day features products for children to sample as a way of getting kids to try new, healthy foods. In addition their are cooking demonstrations both for children and adults. As Project Manager of the Edible Garden, Gasbarra is also eager to talk up the 5,000 square-foot organic vegetable garden right in the middle of the Lincoln Park Zoo. The Edible Garden also runs educational programs in the summer.

“Keep in mind, this is all free,” she added.

Psilos and Gasbarra both stressed the importance of targeting a young demographic.

“I think there are young people who are interested but not everyone gets it,” said Gasbarra. “That’s the mission of the Junior Board: to reel in that younger crowd to the market. You go to the bars and don’t realize that the chef of Old Town Social, Jared Van Camp, his menu is seasonal, and he’s a huge supporter of Green City.

“I tell my friends: Just come down and taste a strawberry that’s not from Mexico or California, that’s grown and sold in the month it’s supposed to be.”

Green City MarketApproximately 1790 N. Clark St., or at the south end of Lincoln Park between Clark and Stockton Drive.7 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays from May 4 to Oct. 29www.greencitymarket.org

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=47Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:00:00 CSTGreen City Market is getting ready to launch our 2011 Indoor Season! Please join us for Markets on the following Saturdays from 8am-1pm: January 15, February 12 and 26, March 12 and 26, April 9 and 23. See you INSIDE the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum at 2430 N. Cannon Dr., Chicago.]]>http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=46
http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=46Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:00:00 CSTOn Wednesday, December 1st, Green City Market was presented with Mayor Daley's GreenWorks Award for "Innovation in Green Business" recognizing the organization's contribution for creating outstanding social, environmental and economic value. The Awards celebrate the vibrancy, vitality, and vision of the people and institutions that are driving Chicago's transformation into a dynamic and resilient City. Click here to see a list of all the nominees.]]>http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=45
http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=45Thu, 25 Nov 2010 00:00:00 CSTGreen City Market was voted one of the top five charities in Chicago this year by Haute Living Magazine. Among other great organizations such as Imerman's Angels, Be Bright Pink, Common Threads, and The Glass Slipper Project we are pleased to be one of "Chicago's most deserving and standout organizations."

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=44Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 CSTThomas Stern is an unabashed locavore, buying everything from beets and basil to lamb and legumes from nearby producers. "Things like salt and oils are a little harder to source," the 23-year-old Evanstonian said at a farmers market recently. "But I'd say that about 80 percent of my food is local." Stern, who cooks at Fraiche in Evanston, said he chooses local foods largely for taste, higher nutrient values, environmentalism and a connection with the person who grew them...Read the full story here]]>http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=40
http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=40Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:00 CSTFood writers and Chefs told CNN their picks for farmers' markets across the United States and Green City Market was voted #3!

Richard Ruben, chef and author of "The Farmer's Market Cookbook" says of Green City Market, "For me, in the Chicago market, it wasn't as much about the discovery of something new. It was just the richness that the fertile earth of the center of this country produces, the beautiful produce, the luxuriousness of our land."

CNN writes that the Midwest boasts some of the nation's most highly rated farmers' market!

Click on the link below for the full story and for more information on the best farmers' markets around the country!

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=38Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:00 CSTNeed a way to cool down this summer? Check out the local Ice Cream "Scene." Read the article below and find mentions of Green City Market vendors Snookelfritz Ice Cream and Kilgus Farmstead as well as pastry-chef and owner Mindy Segal of Hot Chocolate - long-time supporter of Green City Market.

And don't miss the 2nd Annual Ice Cream Fest held July 30-31 at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum this year!

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=39Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 CSTTICKETS: "Hard Tickets" for each individual are REQUIRED for entry to the BBQ. Please make sure to bring your ticket with you! If you ordered tickets online, but did not receive your tickets via mail through Brown Paper Tickets, tickets are being held at the VIP/Media Check-in booth. Please pick-up your tickets here. After you have your tickets, you will be instructed to enter the BBQ via the General Admission entrance.

PARKING: Please note that the parking lot/garage on North and Stockton will be CLOSED for this event. Parking is available at the Lincoln Park Zoo (off of Fullerton), Lincoln Park Conservatory (off of Stockton) or at Piper's Alley (off of North).

ENTRY: Special VIP entry on the south east end of the park begins at 5pm. General admission (at 1790 N. Clark OR 1790 N. Stockton) entry begins at 6pm. This event is rain or shine! Dress for the weather!

IDENTIFICATION: Because alcohol is being served at the event, ID's will be checked upon entry to the BBQ. Please bring a form of ID that proves your age!

NO DOGS PLEASE!

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=37Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 CSTTickets for the 10th Annual Chef's BBQ are SOLD OUT! Thank you to everyone for supporting Green City Market! See you on Thursday!

Some important information about the event:

PARKING: Please note that the parking lot/garage on North and Stockton will be CLOSED for this event. Parking is available at the Lincoln Park Zoo (off of Fullerton), Lincoln Park Conservatory (off of Stockton) or at Piper's Alley (off of North).

ENTRY: Special VIP entry on the south east end of the park begins at 5pm. General admission (at 1790 N. Clark OR 1790 N. Stockton) entry begins at 6pm. This event is rain or shine! Dress for the weather!

IDENTIFICATION: Because alcohol is being served at the event, ID's will be checked upon entry to the BBQ. Please bring a form of ID that proves your age!

TICKETS: "Hard Tickets" for each individual are REQUIRED for entry to the BBQ. Please make sure to bring your ticket with you!

NO DOGS PLEASE!

Can't wait til Thursday? Click here for a sneak-peek at the Wirtz Beverage Cocktails inspired by Green City Market that will be available at the BBQ!

**Photo by Kate Gross Photography**

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=36Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:00:00 CSTWe encourage kids and families to join us for a day of gardening, composting, cooking, touring and tasting at Green City Market! All activities are open to the public – no RSVP required!

The following activities are ongoing from 8:30am – 10:00am:

Garden with Jeanne Pinsof Nolan, The Organic Gardener! Jeanne will lead kids in a take-away peat pot gardening activity.

Meet the worms and learn about vermi-composting with Stephanie Davies and Amber Gribben of Urban Worm Girl!

10:30am This Saturday's chef demonstration is with Marc Bernard of Big Bowl.

11:00am Join us for our Sprouts COOK Demo: Gale Gand and her daughters will create a delicious local, seasonal dessert easy enough for families and kids to recreate at home!]]>http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=35
http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=35Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:00:00 CSTDon't miss out on one of Chicago's most loved culinary events! The Green City Market Annual Chef BBQ will take place in Lincoln Park on Thursday, July 15, 6:00pm-8:00pm. Over 95 restaurants will be represented with chefs preparing menu items that highlight our farmer's and producer's bounty. Tickets available online by visiting http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/107306.

The VIP Heirloom table is $2500 and seats ten. With VIP tickets, you can enter the VIP area at 5:00 pm. You will also get exclusive pre-event tastings and cocktails with well-known chefs from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. To reserve a table, please call the Green City Market office, 773.880.1266.

See you in July!

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=34Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:00:00 CSTAfter a successful indoor season at The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, we are excited to return to our outdoor home on May 12. We will be located at the south end of Lincoln Park, approximately 1790 N. Clark, and we'll be open every Wednesday and Saturday from May 12 to October 30, 2010 from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We hope you will join us as we celebrate our twelfth year and being named one of America's Best Farmers' Markets by Travel and Leisure.

We have approximately 55 vendors joining us for the outdoor season, including new vendors Becker Lane and Dietzler Farms. In January of 2008, the Green City Market Board of Directors voted to require third party certification of all vendors by the year 2012. This move will distinguish Green City Market (GCM) from other farmers' markets, once again setting the pace in supporting local, fresh, and sustainably raised farm products. We are pleased to announce that a majority of our 2010 vendors are either certified or currently in the process of becoming certified.

10:30am - Chef Demonstration featuring Carrie Nahabedian and Craig Harzewski, NAHA and Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris, Prairie Grass Cafe and Prairie Fire. Craig, NAHA's pastry chef, will be doing goat cheese ice cream with rhubarb compote from Prairie Fire. The demo will also feature grilled cheese, bacon and fried duck egg sandwich with a spring salad of greens, asparagus, and herbs from the farmers that will be a collaboration from everyone for a light spring fun meal.

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=33Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:00:00 CSTJoin Green City Market’s Edible Gardens project manager, Jeanne Pinsof Nolan, as she takes you step-by-step through the growing season with our monthly series of hands-on gardening workshops. All workshops will take place one Saturday per month at The Edible Gardens, our 5000 sq. ft organic vegetable garden, located in Lincoln Park Zoo’s Farm-in-the-Zoo from April through November. We’ll explore topics including soil preparation, direct seeding and transplanting, staking and pruning, seed saving, composting and growing food locally in Chicago. You’ll also have the opportunity to tour the Gardens and participate in some real time, hands-on gardening! These workshops are by RSVP only and information on how to RSVP will be sent out once a month in the Green City Market newsletter. Each workshop will be about 45 minutes long and we ask that you dress to garden; water-proof shoes and gardening gloves are encouraged! We’re excited to cultivate a new crop of urban gardeners for the upcoming 2010 growing season!

Schedule

June 19: 9:30-10:15am Necessary Nourishment: Feeding Your Plants for Healthy Growth and Production

July 17: 9:30-10:15am Expand Your Growing Season: Planting Fall Crops

August 28: 9:30-10:15am

Keeping A Tidy Garden: Staking, Pruning and Harvesting

September 18: 9:30-10:15am Growing Locally: Tips for Gardening in Chicago

October 9: 9:30-10:15am Seed Saving 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Saving For Next Season

November 6: 9:30-10:15am Time To Hit the Hay: Putting Your Garden to Bed for the Winter

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=32Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:00:00 CSTWe've started a Know Your Farmer series twice a month to get you more connected with our farmers. We're highlighting Joe Burns from Brunkow Cheese (Darlington, WI) for the fifth installation of our series. They'll be at every indoor market through April and every outdoor market from May 12 through October 30.

1. Why should people care about supporting local and sustainable producers?

By supporting any locally owned business, that money is invested back into the local economy. It also helps a small family-run business (like ours) to grow and develop better and more diverse products.

2. How/why did you become involved in farming? Brunkow Cheese has been making cheeses since 1899. From the start, the creamery was created to provide an additional market for a few dairy farmers in Lafayette County. I personally make all the artisanal cheese at Brunkow and see to all the aging of it in the cellar.

3. How did you get involved with Green City Market? We were encouraged to join by Blue Sky Farms, a Wisconsin raspberry farm and former Green City member. At the time of our joining, there was not a Wisconsin cheesemaker at the market. We jumped aboard and never looked back.

4. What is your most popular product? Avondale Truckle, a twenty pound raw milk bandaged wrapped cheddar made in the style of the traditional English Farmhouse Cheddars. I make only six drums a week, entirely by hand and age it from 12 to 18 months in an 100 year old underground cellar.

5. Do you have any special products in the next two months that you'd like to highlight? I have a line of single herd 100% grass-fed Jersey milk cheeses I will be introducing this spring. The Jersey's are milked by Eric and Carrie Johnson of Jordandal Farm in Argyle, Wisconsin. The first one to hit the market is Pave` Henri, a Trappist-style washed rind that stinks to high heaven. Don't eat it with your nose...

6. What is your favorite Green City Market experience? My favorite experience at GCM was getting some positive words of encouragment from Nordic Creamery's Al Bekkum, who is hands down Wisconsin's best small batch cheese and butter maker.

7. What's the most important thing Green City Market customers don't know about you? I live and die with Nebraska Cornhusker football. But since the market is on Saturdays, I never get to watch the games live. So if in the fall I look distracted and keep muttering to myself, it is because I am listening to the game through a web stream on my phone and praying for a first down.

8. What are your future plans for your farm? We plan to continue for the next 100 years what we have done the past 100 years, and that is to keep making quality cheese by hand in small batches with the same methods and recipes our great grandfather's did four generations ago.

9. What do you want your last meal on Earth to be? I lived in New Orleans for a few years as child and I have dreams of Louisiana crawfish to this day.

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=31Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CSTWe've started a Know Your Farmer series twice a month to get you more connected with our farmers. We're highlighting Al Bekkum from Nordic Creamery (Westby, WI) for the fourth installation of our series. They'll be at every indoor market through April.

1. Why should people care about supporting local and sustainable producers? By supporting any locally owned business, that money is invested back into the local economy. It also helps a small family-run business (like ours) to grow and develop better and more diverse products.

2. How/why did you become involved in farming? Sarah was born and raised on her great-grandfather's farm, which is where we live today. I moved to a farm when I was 11 and since then, I have been farming and making cheese and butter. We are very proud to be raising our six children (5 boys and the youngest is a girl) as the fifth generation on our 120-acre farm.

3. How did you get involved with Green City Market? We were told by a friend at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture of a great farmers market in Chicago that we needed to join. We applied for the market in Summer 2008 and have continued to come since then.

4. What is your most popular product? Our summer butter is very popular. It is made only in the summer when the cows are out on pasture. A fresh, grass-based butter... need I say more?

5. Do you have any special products in the next two months that you'd like to highlight? Our summer butter will be back when the outdoor market starts (May 12th). We will also have a goat milk butter.

6. What is your favorite Green City Market experience? We knew a fresh butter would sell well but never thought that people would go as crazy for it as they have.

7. What's the most important thing Green City Market customers don't know about you? We want people to know that we have a strong passion for the cheese and butter that we make. Having strong family values, we will only put out a product that would be good enough for our family as well as yours!

8. What are your future plans for your farm? We are in the process of becoming certified organic. We're proud to continue creating a place for the next generation to survive on like the past generations have done for us.

9. What do you want your last meal on Earth to be? Anything made by my wife Sarah and grown on the farm. And maybe a slice of cheese made by Joe Burns (Brunkow).

Three nonprofits came together on Thursday, March 11, to hand-deliver 65 letters written by a diverse range of area students asking Congress to invest in their education and well-being with healthier school lunches to the Chicago office of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin .

Green City Market teamed up with Slow Food Chicago and Common Threads to deliver the letters and strike up a conversation with the Senator’s staff about how to give kids the school food they deserve. Kids are hungry for healthier options; their letters asked for “more broccoli,” “more fruit and healthy food at school,” and nutritious food that “gets you going at recess.”

Congress currently authorizes $2.68 for each school lunch served, but with childhood obesity and health care costs spiraling out of control, that level of funding no longer adds up. As Congress works to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act, the organizations are backing the Time for Lunch campaign and asking for increased funding for healthier school lunches.

“All of us understand that this is not just about dollars—it’s about SENSE,” Slow Food Chicago Board Member Amy Cox said. “How can we collectively work together to make sensible changes for the sake of our future generation’s wellness?"

“An important part of Green City Market’s mission is to promote a healthier society through education and appreciation of local and fresh foods,” said Sara Gasbarra, Green City Market’s Children’s Program Chair. As part of its mission, Common Threads also works to educate children on the importance of nutrition and physical well-being, and to foster an appreciation of cultural diversity through cooking.

“In partnering with like-minded organizations,” Gasbarra added, “we can take greater measures to ensure that all children have access to healthy, nutritious food in their schools.”

Together the nonprofit representatives requested the Senator’s support for at least $1 billion in additional funding for child nutrition; for stronger nutritional standards for food sold at schools; and for mandatory funding for school gardens and curriculum to teach healthy eating habits.

The meeting was positive and productive, and an exciting starting point for future discussions, Cox said.

“Funding is a critical part of the process of growing healthier kids,” she added. “Adequate funding—combined with the grassroots work that not-for-profit organizations, communities, schools, and local, small-scale food producers are doing to grow and prepare healthy food—fuels not only the stomachs of our youth, but sustains the health of our local economic system as well.”

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=29Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CSTWe've started a Know Your Farmer series twice a month to get you more connected with our farmers. We're highlighting Tracey Vowell and Kathe Roybal from Three Sisters Garden (Kankakee, Illinois) for the third installation of our series. They'll be at every indoor market through April.

Tracey (left) and Kathe from Three Sisters Garden

1. Why should people care about supporting local and sustainable producers? Supporting local, sustainable producers has many benefits. It is an investment in local community as most of the dollars spent with producers stay within the local area. It also ensures higher quality, fresher, more nutritious and diverse products available for consumers, because the shipping and distribution aspects of grocery store shopping are reduced. Taking care to purchase as much as possible from sustainable producers helps to provide the best possible future for our children, and theirs.

2. How/why did you become involved in farming? Working in the restaurant world for many years, we both wanted to make a change that would both allow us to have our own business, and dramatically change the pace of our lives. Having been exposed to many different farmers in the course of our restaurant careers, we had the opportunity to make observations about the differences in their lives and ours, and we were very interested in what we saw. We started working towards gaining the knowledge and expertise that would eventually help us make a decision about what kind of farming we wanted to do, and give us the confidence to buy a piece of land and get started.

3. How did you get involved with Green City Market? We were invited to participate in the Locavore Challenge in September 2008 and luckily for us, we were allowed to stay on as vendors after the challenge was over. We are very thankful for that invitation as the Green City Market turned out to be a perfect opportunity for us.

4. What is your most popular product? It seems that we have been very fortunate with our rolled oats. They are not like any other oats that we know of, and our customers have become very devoted to them. It is one product that is very different from what you get at the grocery, both because of the freshness and the style of rolling. We try to walk the line between steel cut and rolled, and it seems to have been a good choice for us.

5. Do you have any special products in the next two months that you'd like to highlight? We have been playing around with sprouts, and hope to have a couple of new products up and running in the near future: mung and adzuki bean, radish, clover and alfalfa sprouts to begin with and then...who knows?

6. What is your favorite Green City Market experience? We have a great time at every market. After a number of years spent in our own little farming bubble, it has been wonderful to interact with customers and other farmers directly. We love the feel of the market, from customers to other farmers and market management. The whole thing, save a couple of days of torrential rain, has been a wonderful experience for us.

7. What's the most important thing Green City Market customers don't know about you? That our name does not mean "three sisters" in the human sense. The three sisters that our name refers to are corn, beans and squash, as they were called by Native Americans. Because we really focus the bulk of our farm work on New World crops, we wanted our farm to have a name that was reflective of this in some way. It gives us a simple inroad to talk about what we do and the choices we have made as farmers.

8. What are your future plans for your farm? Right now, all of our plans relate to becoming better farmers, better stewards of the land, and working further towards achieving greater sustainability as it refers to both our farm and ourselves.

9. What do you want your last meal on Earth to be?Fresh sliced heirloom tomatoes, roasted corn on the cob and fresh shell beans cooked with fresh herbs, a bit of bacon and onion.

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=28Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CSTOur January through April chef demos will require RSVPs because of space limitations in the Nature Museum Science Lab (the demos will still be free). Invitations are extended only to our newsletter subscribers. Instructions on how to RSVP are sent out in the weekly newsletter on Tuesday during the week of the market and chef demos (Instructions for Jan. 16th will be sent out in Jan. 12th e-mail). Note: We will not take any RSVPs for chef demos until the Tuesday newsletter of that market week is sent.

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=22Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CSTWe've started a Know Your Farmer series twice a month to get you more connected with our farmers. We're highlighting Tom and Amy Ifft from Twin Oak Meats (Fairbury, Illinois) for the second installation of our series. They'll be at every indoor market through April.

1. Why should people care about supporting local and sustainable producers? Supporting local farmers also supports the local economy. Anything bought locally will be much fresher than buying something that has been shipped from afar. Sustainable producers take care of the land, ensuring it will be preserved for future generations.

2. How did you become involved in farming? I was raised on the farm - farming has been in our background for four generations and I always was interested in farming.

3. How did you get involved with Green City Market? Our friends John & Pat Sondgeroth (Heartland Meats) put us in contact with the Market four years ago.

4. What is your most popular product? Our bacon, by far.

5. Do you have any special products in the next two months that you'd like to highlight? For anyone who celebrates Easter, we have our boneless Honey Glazed Spiral Sliced hams and also other types of hams for the holiday.

6. What is your favorite Green City Market experience? Someone who used to live [near our farm] stopped by our tent, and I thought it was interesting to "reconnect" with someone who now lives in the City and visiting the Green City Market!

7. What's the most important thing Green City Market customers don't know about you? All of our breakfast and Italian sausages are homemade as we use our own recipes and blend all the seasonings by hand. Also, all of our sausages are preservative-free.

8. What are your future plans for your farm? To continue raising great pork products and serving our customers as we have the past 11 years.

9. What do you want your last meal on Earth to be? BBQ ribs on the smoker with all the fixins!

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=27Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CSTWe've started a Know Your Farmer series twice a month to get you more connected with our farmers. We'll be highlighting Pat and John Sondgeroth from Heartland Meats for the first in our series. They'll be at every indoor market through April.

Why should people care about supporting local and sustainable producers? We feel it is important to support sustainable producers because we are stewards of a non-renewable resource-- the land that has been put in our care and the land that feeds the world. We need to take care and take responsibility by utilizing sustainable practices, in order that future generations can continue to be nourished by it. And all of us, whether we are farmers or customers, need to conserve our natural resources in any way we can, with one of those very important ways being supporting local producers. If we start at home, it will grow from there, without even having to leave our local communities.

How did you become involved in farming? I was "born a farmer," being fourth generation on what is now our century-old family farm. I was raised with a love of farming, and according to my mom, was driving a tractor at age six.

How did you get involved with Green City Market? In 2000, we had a booth at the Fancy Food Show. [Green City Market founder] Abby Mandel stopped and visited with us, encouraging us to join her two year old market.

What is your most popular product? It depends on the season. Chuck roasts, stew meat, shank and oxtail are popular in the colder months. Steaks are big in grilling season and rib roasts and tenderloins are popular for the holidays.

Do you have any special products in the next two months that you'd like to highlight? Coulotte steaks and tri-tips are very unique (not yet real well-known) and versatile and fantastic cuts, whether you slow cook OR grill them.

What is your favorite Green City Market experience? The Annual Chef's BBQ is our favorite Green City Market experience. We thoroughly enjoy the unique and fantastic presentations created with our beef by some of the most talented chefs in the country.

What's the most important thing Green City Market customers don't know about you?Most Green City Market customers probably don't know that we can guarantee every piece of beef we sell is from our farm because we wet-age, process and package all our own product.

What do you want your last meal on Earth to be?

We would, of course, like our last meal to be Heartland Meats Piedmontese beef-- a great steak dinner enjoyed in each other's company.

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=26Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CSTIn an effort to expand access to local, sustainable food in Chicago, Green City Market will resume acceptance of SNAP Benefits (Link Cards) at the market. Starting Saturday, December 5th, all Link Card customers will be able to make food purchases at Green City Market, one of only three Farmers' Markets in Chicago to accept Link Cards. Anyone interested in using their Link Card can either visit the information stand, or call the Green City Market office at 773-880-1266. We greatly appreciate your patience with this matter, and we hope that your continued support will work to make this program a success.]]>http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=21
http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=21Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CSTGreen City Market is now accepting applications for the 2010 outdoor market.

Green City Market, a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization, supports local farmers by providing a Chicago marketplace for locally raised, sustainable, and organic products. The Market’s mission, its vendor application process, and educational initiatives make it a unique Chicago farmers’ market. Green City Market's long-term objective is to establish a self-sustaining market for locally grown, sustainable and organic foods and we are looking for producers who will help reach these goals.

The 2010 Rules and Regulations and Green City Market application can be downloaded from the web site. Information about acceptable products, required documents and vendor fees can be found in those documents. "Local" is defined as Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. The 2010 outdoor market season will run every Wednesday and Saturday (7:00 am to 1:00 pm) from May 12 through October 30 and will be located in the south part of Lincoln Park, near 1750 N. Clark Street.

Call the Green City Market office at 773-880-1266 or contact via e-mail with any questions. Applications and all required documents are due February 25, 2010, along with the $25 application fee.

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=25Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CSTNote: This event is open only to farmers, market vendors/producers and chefs interested in buying direct from farmers.

Green City Market and the Mayor's Office of Special Events present the Chicago Farmer Forum, Saturday, February 6, 2010, at Kendall College, 900 North Branch (just north of Chicago Ave. on Halsted Street, FREE parking lot), sponsored in part by Country Financial.

This event promotes local food and farms by helping farmers, market managers, and chefs connect. In addition, farmers can learn how to become part of Green City Market and the city markets, as well as improve their direct sales and learn how to better market their products and services. Pre-registration is required, call 312-744-9493 by February 4th to register.

The Farmer Forum begins at 9am and ends with a networking session at approximately 3pm. More than 100 farmers, producers and chefs are expected to attend this highly anticipated industry event. In addition, farmers can meet with insurance specialists on-site to learn more about risk assessment and management as well as about financial planning and meeting insurance needs.

After the keynote address from Francis Thicke, dairy farmer and winner of the 2009 Spencer Award for Sustainable Agriculture, two simultaneous panel discussions will take place.

The first will be a chef panel (moderated by Peggy Ryan, chef instructor at Kendall College) with Paul Virant (Vie), Rob and Allie Levitt (Mado), Jason Hammel (Lula Cafe and Nightwood). Chefs will be discussing the direct farmer relationship, and what works and what doesn't. Share success stories of farmer relationships, talk through challenges of deliveries, pricing, how much info do you put on the menu and discuss how to educate restaurant staff.

The second will be a farmer panel (moderated by Amy Cox from Slow Food Chicago) with Vicki Westerhoff (Genesis Growers), Portia Belloc-Lowndes (Heritage Prairie), Deb Hansen (Simply Wisconsin Farmer's Co-op) and Ted Richter (Heritage Prairie). The panel will discuss how to diversify and increase revenue on the farm throughout the whole year. Farmers will discuss starting co-ops, CSAs, hosting special events on the farm and season extending strategies.

To find out more, call the Mayor’s Office of Special Events 312-744-3316.

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=24Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CSTGreen City Market kicks off the 2010 Indoor season on Saturday, January 16 from 8:00am to 1:00pm in the south gallery of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. We will be offering chef tastings, demonstrations and special vendors highlighting this market's theme: Are You Game? In addition to elk sold by our vendor Hawks Hill Elk Ranch, we'll have guest vendors selling pheasant, bison, rabbit and duck.

Three chefs will be offering delicious tastings throughout the day (these tastings do not require RSVPs). Chefs participating include: 9:30 - Matt Castro, Foundation Room at the House of Blues 10:30 - Rodney Staton, State and Lake 11:30 - Mark Mendez, Carnivale

*Since space is limited, our January through April chef demos will require RSVPs and invitations are extended only to our newsletter subscribers (click here to subscribe). Instructions on how to RSVP will be sent out in the weekly newsletter the week of the market (Instructions for Jan. 16th will be sent out in Jan. 12th e-mail). For more information, e-mail admin@chicagogreencitymarket.org.

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=23Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CSTThe following vendors will be at the Market in November and December:

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=20Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CSTGreen City Market will move indoors from November 7, 2009 - April 24, 2010. We will set up shop at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (2430 N. Cannon Drive) again this year.

From November 7 through December 23, Green City Market will be open every Wednesday and Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm (no market on November 28). In 2010, Green City Market will be open on the following Saturdays from 8 am to 1 pm: January 16, February 13, February 27, March 13, March 27, April 10 and April 24.

Our themes for the 2010 indoor season are:

January: Are You Game?

February: Meat and Potatoes

March: Bacon and Eggs

April: Cheese

Make sure to watch for more announcements, chef demonstrations, workshops and other special events.

Join us at 11:00 am for the Kids Halloween Costume contest, judged by Joel from Hawks Hill Elk Ranch and Lyle from Green City Market. The winner will take home a special prize!

We'll end the party with the Club Sprouts kids cooking demo at 11:30 am with Courtney Treutelaar from Common Threads.

For the adults, we'll have a chef demo at 10:30 am with Chris Pandel of the Bristol. Green City Market will also have a membership drive at the market. For more information about Green City Market or the Halloween party, please e-mail admin@chicagogreencitymarket.org.

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=18Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CSTWe are thrilled to announce that on October 16, the Illinois Department of Agriculture announced that Green City Market has been awarded two grants amounting to $25,000. GCM is one of 28 Illinois funded projects and the only organization to receive multiple grants. Dollars from these grants will go toward promoting the Illinois Specialty Crop Industry through the Know Your Food . . . Know Your Farmer brochure (this is a matching grant resulting from the recent USDA award); creating marketing materials to educate Chicagoans about the Heritage and Heirloom Project, Club Sprouts and Locavore Challenge; funding the GCM weekly newsletter; and assisting with the development of farmer-chef online communications.

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=19Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CSTWe invite you to join us in this month's Savor the Seasons festival celebrating tomatoes in the height of their season. Several varieties of heirloom tomatoes will be available to sample. Chef tastings will be with Patrick Sheerin (Signature Room), Alex Cheswick (May Street Market), Sarah Levy (Sarah's Pastries). The festival will run from 9:30 am to 10:15 am at the Green City Market.

Photo by Laura Watkins

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=16Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 CSTAgriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the release of 86 grants totaling more than $4.5 million under the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), naming Chicago’s Green City Market as the sole recipient statewide. Part of the USDA’s “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” initiative, the Green City Market was awarded $76,300. According to the USDA, the grants were awarded to encourage and support the viability of farmers markets and direct marketing projects nationwide. “This is a giant step forward for us and will help expand the mission and vision of Green City Market,” states Lyle Allen, Executive Director of the Market. As Chicago’s only year-round farmers market, the mission of the Green City Market is to provide a marketplace for purchasing sustainably grown food and to educate, promote and connect farmers and local producers directly to chefs, restaurateurs and the greater Chicago community through the market itself, educational programming and special events. A national directory of farmers markets is available at www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets.

The FMPP is designed to promote local and regional food systems that help to boost local economies, eliminate child hunger, and increase access to fresh produce in low-income neighborhoods, thereby improving community health and nutrition. Part of the funding is directed to aiding low-income consumers by increasing access to fresh produce through the use of electronic benefit transfers (EBT). In Chicago, the grant dollars will be utilized by the Green City Market for the following:

The establishment of the Green City Market Farmer Scholarship Program encouraging our farmers to attend workshops, seminars, conferences and classes to ensure they receive 3rd Party Organic and/or Sustainable Certification by 2012 (as required by GCM)

Developing marketing materials, including promotional assistance with the EBT Program

Development of a Know Your Food, Know Your Farmer brochure

Improving the Edible Gardens program

Staff salaries

As Chicago’s only year-round truly “green” farmers market the Green City Market is creating a national marketplace model for distributing, promoting and educating about local sustainably-grown food. Green City Market is a non-profit organization that values education about quality food and its source. We value farmers who take care of the land; the preservation of sustainably farmed land; a vibrant thriving community of local farms; and consumption of locally grown foods. The Green City Market operates Wednesdays and Saturdays within Lincoln Park; for more information, www.chicagogreencitymarket.org.Written by Jenn Galdez, Grapevine Public Relations

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=17Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 CSTThe 2009 Locavore challenge will run from September 9th through September 23rd. The Town Hall Meeting will be on September 23rd, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sign up now to become a part of the Locavore challenge!

Pledge to become a Locavore and join other Chicagoans committed to eating locally grown and produced foods for two weeks!Sign up at the Information Tent at the Green City Market or download a pledge form and fax it to 773-880-1262. Don't forget to pick up your Locavore kit at the Green City Market Information Tent. The Locavore Kit has a list of local stores containing local foods.

Check our Locavore page for more information on the challenge and a list of participating restaurants.

You are cordially invited to attend the annual Green City Market Harvest Celebration Sunday September 13th, 2009 4:30 until 7:00 pm.

The celebration will be held at the beautiful country estate and gardens on Bill Kurtis and Donna La Pietra in Mettawa, IL. The Market Harvest Celebration will include Chicago's most well respected chefs cooking flavorful local foods on the gardens, potager, tree house, over the fire pit and by the pond. A true country feast will showcase the freshest, best tasting Green City Market products and bring together camaraderie of the most passionate food environmentalists.

An array of exciting one-of-a kind culinary auction packages will be offered all in support of the Market. This year's packages include:

A weekend getaway to Kentucky featuring a farm tour and dinner at Capriole Farm, A Farm dinner at Heritage Prarie in Geneva, Il - spend the weekend in their beautiful farmhouse and invite eight of your friends for a chef prepared dinner or brunch, a VIP Table at the Green City Market Chef BBQ in Lincoln park (pre reception for you and your guests with celebrity chefs preparing hors d'oeuvres and cocktails), exclusive chef inspired events, cooking classes and more!

This is a tax-deductible contribution to Green City Market, a 501(c)3 not for profit organization, less $100 (cost of the dinner), per ticket.

For more information, please call 773-880-1266 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com to reserve your tickets. Capacity is very limited for this special event. Reservation deadline is Friday, September 11th, 2009 or while supplies last.

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=12Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:00:00 CSTThe 2009 Edible Gardens Fall season is right around the corner and we invite you to visit the gardens at Lincoln Park Zoo for a field trip! We provide each child with a hands-on garden experience and they will participate in activities such as harvesting, compost-making, weeding, seed saving, etc. We welcome schools interested in starting their own school gardens to visit us for Chicago-appropriate ideas and inspiration. The gardens will be open for Fall field trips in September and October on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 am - 1 pm.

The Edible Gardens is sponsored by a partnership between Green City Market and Lincoln Park Zoo. The field trips are designed to educate children about the concept of “seed to table”, organic gardening/farming, the importance of eating locally grown foods and the health benefits of incorporating fruits and vegetables into their diets.

We will also be continuing our special Green City Market activity for Wednesday’s field trips! Each school group will be given a brief guided tour through Green City Market, the city's only 100% sustainable farmer's market, and will be given the opportunity to experience a hands-on children’s Tasting Table. The Tasting Table will feature seasonal vegetables and fruit available at the Market for children to see, touch and taste.

If you'd like to sign up, email Sara Gasbarra, Edible Gardens Field Trip Coordinator, with a few date requests and we'll send you information about our field trip and how to prepare your classroom for their visit. Sara's email address is: sara@theorganicgardener.net.

Additionally, you may also pre-book your spring field trips for Wednesdays and Thursdays during April and May.

We look forward to seeing you at The Edible Gardens this fall!

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=9Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:00:00 CSTAre you a fan of Green City Market? Do you think we are the best Farmer's Market in the country?

Show your support and spread the word about Green City Market and local, sustainable food by voting for the Green City Market in the Care 2 Love Your Farmers Market contest.

At 11:30 am, share the passion of Latin dance at Green City Market with Luna Negra Dance Theater! Learn salsa and merengue moves with Luna Negra dancers Ricardo Garcia and Kirsten Shelton, classically trained artists who deliver modern Latino expressions with energy and power. Open to all ages and abilities, this workshop will invigorate you with Latin rhythms.

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=11Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CSTThe last day to buy the VIP tables for the Green City Market Annual Chef BBQ is July 13th. There is a limited number of VIP tickets are available only through the Green City Market office by calling (773) 880-1266. There are two levels of VIP ticket this year: The Heirloom level, which is a reserved table for 10 with the services of a waiter, and the Heritage level, for a table for 10 with no waiter. Heirloom tickets are $2500 per table and Heritage are $1500 per table. Individual tickets are completely sold out.

The 2009 Green City Market Annual Chef BBQ will be held in Lincoln Park on Thursday, July 16, from 6-8 pm. Read more about this event.

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=7Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CSTLead Feather is a non-profit organization working to strengthen relationships to the earth and one another through Native American ceremony, time in the wilderness, and environmental programming.

Lead Feather offers week-long wilderness experiences that uniquely combine these elements and is offering a special offer for Green City Market eNews subscribers. Guided by ancient spiritual and cultural wisdom, their Native American leaders will welcome you to participate in sacred ceremonies, which may include drumming and singing circles, sacred fire ceremonies, sweat lodges, and more.

Lead Feather supports the Green City Market community, and offers $150 off any of our journeys to Green City Market eNews subscribers. Please just mention you received this message on GCM's eNewsletter, and they'll be happy to reduce your registration fee.

For more information about the journies available to join, please contact Paulie Cohen directly at 802.497.1494, or at paulie@leadfeather.org. More information about other custom journeys and programs is also available at their website, www.leadfeather.org

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http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=10Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CSTDue to popular demand, Green City Market will be open on July 4th from 7 am to 1 pm in our outdoor market location. Hope to see you there!]]>http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=6
http://www.greencitymarket.org/newsDetail.asp?id=6Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CSTTickets for the Green City Market Annual Chef BBQ are sold out!

A limited number of VIP tickets are available only through the Green City Market office by calling (773) 880-1266. There are two levels of VIP ticket this year: The Heirloom level, which is a reserved table for 10 with the services of a waiter, and the Heritage level, for a table for 10 with no waiter. Heirloom tickets are $2500 per table and Heritage are $1500 per table.

The 2009 Green City Market Annual Chef BBQ will be held in Lincoln Park on Thursday, July 16, from 6-8 pm. Read more about this event.